Unraveling Fayth: Devil's Knights, #8

By Winter Travers

Fayth doesn’t know what she wants anymore. Torn between the life she used to live or staying in Rockton, Fayth can’t decide which future she wants. All she knows is that the one man who won’t leave her side is the one man who is taking over her heart.  

Everyday Slider relives the moment  he thought he had lost Fayth before he even had the chance to have her. Now, with Fayth back in Rockton, he’s never letting her out of his sight. Although, someone else has other plans

Danger is lurking, and Slider is the one man that will keep her safe.

He let her down once.

He’ll never let it happen again.

The score is finally settled in this thrilling conclusion to the Devil’s Knights Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Winter Travers
• Release date: Jan 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386228707

Book preview

Chapter 1

Slider

How long does this normally take?

I don’t know, man. I’ve never done this before.

Well, why don’t you ask Meg? She’s done this at least once.

King shook his head and sat down in the chair next to me. I really don’t think I should barge in there and demand to know how much longer they are going to be.

Why the hell not? If it’s going to be hours, we could grab something to eat without them even knowing that we were gone.

Thinking with your stomach again, huh, Turtle? I kicked my feet out and stretched out my legs. We had been at the hospital for five hours already, and we hadn’t heard what was going on other than Cyn was going to have the baby, eventually.

Shut the hell up. He rubbed his stomach and flipped me off. I’m a growing boy.

King shook his head and leaned back on the wall. Take a walk, Turtle. I’ll talk to Meg in a little bit. I don’t think having a baby happens instantly. We’re in for a long wait.

Turtle grabbed his leather jacket off the back of my chair and headed down the hallway. I’ll be around, he called.

Jesus, King swore. It’s like herding cats with you fuckers.

Hey, don’t group me in with that asshat. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, checking for the fiftieth time to see if I had missed her phone call.

She call you yet? King asked.

I shook my head no and shoved my phone in my pocket. I hadn’t heard from Fayth in over two months, and I was going fucking crazy waiting. You talk to Leo lately? Updates from Leo were the only thing that was keeping me in Rockton and not hopping on my bike headed to Chicago.

He said she’s doing good. Not much has changed, though.

I nodded and gritted my teeth. No change was all I’ve heard for the past two fucking months. I need to go see her, King.

Leo doesn’t think that’s a good idea.

I don’t give a flying fuck if Leo thinks it’s a good idea or not. I’ve waited long enough. I didn’t even get to say goodbye when he swooped in and took her back to Chicago. I was still pissed as hell. It had been a week after the shooting, and I had left the hospital for half an hour to grab a shower and something to eat. By the time I had gotten back, Fayth was gone, and the only person who was there was one of Leo’s henchmen, Apollo.

Two and a half months ago

Where the fuck is she? I demanded.

Apollo sized me up and crossed his arms over his chest. He took her home.

What the fuck for? This was fucking bullshit. Fayth was in one of the best hospitals in Wisconsin. She was receiving all the help and attention she needed. I was making sure of that.

Leo has some things going on back home that he is dealing with, and it’s in Fayth’s best interest not to be far away.

You always talk like you got a stick up your ass? Apollo growled but didn’t say anything. She was fine here. I was looking after her.

Just like you were looking after her when she got shot in the head?

I ran my fingers through my hair and sat on the edge of the bed. Apollo was the only one who had the balls to say what everyone else was thinking. I didn’t think Big A was going to go after Fayth. Hell, she doesn’t have anything to do with all the shit going on.

Apollo shrugged. He did and now she’s back in Chicago. Tell King that Leo will be in touch. Apollo ducked out the door and I was left in an empty hospital room wondering what the fuck I was going to do next.

King stood and started pacing the hallway. Give her more time, Slider.

You telling me that you would be able to stay away from Meg that long?

Hell no, but that’s because I’m married to her and plan on spending the rest of my life with her. You don’t know what you want from Fayth. Part of me thinks that you just feel guilty because you didn’t protect her.

I stood and glared at King. I didn’t protect her, and nothing will ever make up for that. If you could not throw it in my fucking face, that’d be great.

I’m not throwing it in your face. All I’m saying is that if you want to see her, make sure it’s for the right reasons, and not just to sooth your own pride. King stood in front of me and put his hand on my shoulder. You’ve changed since that night, Slider. So did Fayth. Just know what you want before you see her. She deserves that much.

King wandered down the hallway and disappeared around a corner.

I sank back down into the chair and put my head in my hands.

I had no fucking clue what I wanted, but I knew I wasn’t going to figure it out here. Two more weeks was all I was going to wait, then I was headed to Chicago, whether I was wanted there or not.

********

Chapter 2

Slider

Meg ran to the front door and shouted, They’re here!

Jesus, Meg. You’re acting like you haven’t seen Cyn in months. It’s been a couple of hours. King shook his head and sat down next to me at the poker table.

She’s got baby fever, I chuckled.

Yeah, well she can work out that baby fever with Cyn and Rigid’s kid. She can spoil Micha rotten and then give him back, King grumbled. I’m not into sharing Meg with more than Remy. I’m a selfish bastard when it comes to her.

Rigid came through the front door, the baby carrier over one arm and a blue diaper bag slung over his shoulder. Meg had stepped off to the side and was oohing and ahhing over the baby as soon as Rigid set the carrier down.

Stop, Cyn called. Did you wash your hands? she asked Meg who was hunched over the carrier, her hands poised to lift Micha out of the seat.

Really? Meg scoffed. You’re going to get over that new paranoid parent thing real quick, she said laughing while she unbuckled the straps and gently lifted Micha into her arms.

So, are we going to be calling you daddy soon? Hammer asked when he sat down at the table with us.

King, Turtle, and I looked at Hammer and shook our heads. Sorry, Hammer. But that’s really not a kink I’m into. King smirked.

Oh, fuck you, Hammer said. You know what the hell I meant.

Meg sat down on the couch and scolded Hammer. Language.

Babe, the kid doesn’t even know his name. I’m pretty sure he’s not going to know what fuck means. King stood and made his way over to the bar.

He may not know what it means now, but he will eventually. It’s better if you start curbing your cursing now.

Babe, you cuss just as much as I do. King grabbed four beers and a bottle of Jack. You’re supposed to be the cool aunt, not the one with a stick up their ass.

I do not have a stick up my ass, Meg growled. We just don’t need to corrupt the kid not even an hour out of the hospital.

Cyn sat down next to Meg and watched every move she made. Make sure you’re supporting his neck.

Meg shook her head and smiled down at Micha. Your mama needs to take a chill pill, yes she does, she cooed.

I do not need to take a chill pill, Cyn muttered and crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in the couch. I need a nap and a hot bath. Everything feels stretched out and saggy. How come no one ever tells you about this part of having a baby?

"Because then no one would want to get pregnant, that’s why. My body hasn’t been the same since I had Remy."

Cyn’s eyes got huge and her jaw dropped. Meg, Remy is almost eighteen years old.

Meg laughed and cradled Micha in her arms. Yup. He most definitely is.

Oh, my god, Cyn gasped. I’m destined to be stretchy and saggy for the rest of my life, she moaned.

Hey, could you not terrify Cyn right now, Meg? Rigid called from the kitchen. She’s hot as fuck and nothing is going to change that. Even pushing an eight-pound baby out of her who-ha.

Who-ha? King chuckled.

Can’t really call it a pussy when I’m talking about the boy. Rigid strutted out of the kitchen with two bottles of water in his hand and a bag of chips in the other.

Words! Meg yelled.

Aw hell, we can’t even say pussy anymore? Hammer grumbled.

Not in front of Micha. I swear y’all are trying to turn him into a dirty-talking biker and he’s barely been out of the womb for four days. Meg stood and paced back and forth, rocking Micha in her arms.

His father is one of those dirty-talking bikers, so I don’t really think it’s that far of a stretch that the apple isn’t going to fall far from the tree. Rigid shrugged and moved over to Cyn. You wanna go lay down for a bit, he asked and handed her a bottle of water.

She twisted the cap open and took a small sip. A nap sounds heavenly but I doubt Micha is going to cooperate.

Meg waved her hand at Cyn. Nonsense. I can watch Micha while you take a nap. That’s was kick-ass aunts are for.

Hey! She just said ass. How the hell does that work? Turtle asked.

It works because she’s my wife, and she has no logic to her reasoning. Just go with it, Turtle. You’ll be better off that way. King tilted his head at Turtle and winked. At least, that’s what I tell myself every night.

I’ll pass on that shit, Hammer muttered under his breath.

Anyway, Meg said rolling her eyes. Take a nap. I’ll be here.

Cyn stood and looked over at Meg. Are you sure?

Yes. Go now, before I change my mind.

Rigid grabbed Cyn’s hand and dragged her down the hallway to his room.

I give her twenty minutes before she's out here checking on Micha, I chuckled.

Hopefully, she lasts longer than that. Meg glided over to King and sat down in his lap. She’s going to have a lot of sleepless nights coming up.

King looked down at the baby in Meg’s arms and wrapped an arm around her waist. You look pretty good with a baby in your arms, babe.

Meg laughed. It may be more than sixteen years since I’ve actually held a baby, but it all seems to come back to ya real quick.

Well, you can get your baby fix with Micha and then give him back.

Meg pressed a kiss to the side of King’s head. That’s the plan, handsome. Besides, I am way past my baby-having days.

Good. Keep it that way, King ordered.

Meg looked around the table at us with a small smile on her lips. Have you heard anything new about Fayth? she asked me.

I shook my head and took a long pull from my beer. Nope. I hear the same thing every day. She’s doing fine.

Are you planning—

Meg, King cut her off. Let it be, babe, he ordered, shaking his head.

But, why can’t I?

Because you’re not going to say anything Slider hasn’t thought or been asked fifty times.

But he can— King cut her off with a stern look and Meg snapped her mouth shut. Fine, she muttered.

I could only imagine the fifty questions Meg was going to fire off at me. They weren’t going to be any different than the ones I had been asking myself. You’ll be the first to know if anything happens, Meg. Although, I doubt that is going to happen anytime soon.

Who are we talking about? Hammer asked.

Oh, sweet Jesus, Meg whispered.

Fayth, jackass, King growled.

Leo’s sister?

Were you dropped on your head as a baby, Hammer? Turtle asked.

No. At least, not that I know of, Hammer replied and scratched his head.

I think you need to have an entry-level test that all prospects have to take if they want to be part of the club, Meg laughed.

Then I wouldn’t have anyone in the fucking club, King chuckled.

But he’d have me, Meg cooed down at Micha. I’m gonna go to our room and play with Micha.

He’s a baby. How in the hell are you going to play with him? King asked, as Meg stood and headed down the hallway.

Come with me and find out, she called. Oh, and bring his bag.

Walked right into that one, didn’t I? King grumbled and grabbed the diaper bag from next to the couch and followed Meg.

Sure did, brother, I chuckled.

Hammer looked between Turtle and me. Now, what the hell are we going to do tonight?

Pizza and poker? Turtle suggested.

Works for me, I said, as I shrugged. It wasn’t like I had my own ol’ lady to hideaway in my room with like most of the fuckers in the club did.

You think we could get Gambler to play? Turtle asked and walked behind the bar.

I pulled my phone out and fired off a couple of messages to Gambler, Demon, and Troy. I doubted any of them would come, but what did it hurt to ask? I asked him. We’ll see. If anything, he’ll bring Gwen with him so she can fawn over the baby and then maybe he can play a couple of hands with us. I kicked my feet out, stretching my legs and looked around the clubhouse.

Things had sure changed from a year ago. Normally on Friday night, the common room would have been overflowing with people partying, celebrating the end of another week with a twelve-pack and ten bottles of booze. Now here we were, me with these two fuckers playing a pathetic game of poker begging Gambler and Demon to leave their ol’ ladies for a couple of hours.

I bet if you text Troy and have him tell Marley that we’re ordering pizza, they’ll be over before it even gets delivered. Turtle grabbed the half-empty bottle of whiskey, a couple of shot glasses, and the deck of cards.

I texted Troy, Gambler, and Demon. We’ll see if any of them come. I grabbed the deck of cards from Turtle and shuffled them.

I dealt and sat back in my chair while I waited for Hammer and Turtle to finish pouring their drinks.

This was not how I had expected to spend my night, but the one person I wanted to be with, I couldn’t.

Life sucked, and I had no fucking clue how to fix it.

********

Chapter 3

Fayth

Did she say anything today?

No. Same as the past weeks. She wakes up, gets dressed, then sits in the chair by the window all day.

They were talking about me like I wasn’t even in the room. I stared blankly out the window and wondered what the hell was going on.

I wanted to talk. I wanted to tell everyone to shut the hell up and leave me alone, but I couldn’t. The words I yearned to speak wouldn’t leave my throat.

Are there any more tests we can run? Are you sure there isn’t something going on that we can’t see?  Leo’s voice drifted over to me, and I shook my head. It was like he was hoping there was a problem because without a problem to fix, there was nothing for him to do.

There isn’t much more that we can do. Considering what she has been through, she’s doing miraculously well.

But she’s not fucking talking! Leo thundered.

She acknowledges people when they talk to her, and there are no signs that there was any brain damage. Her muteness is more than likely the way she is dealing with the trauma. I heard the doctor’s footsteps lightly tread out of the room.

Leo sighed heavily. Just one word, Fay, that’s all that I want. He sounded exhausted.

One word? Hell, I had a hundred fucking words to say, but I just couldn’t get them out.

I don’t know what it’s going to take for you to talk. Leo fell into the chair across from me and crossed his legs. He glanced at the table next to me and sighed. I don’t know why you refuse to use the pen and paper to communicate.

I rolled my eyes and looked back out the window. I didn’t need the pen and paper. I woke up in the morning, the nurse helped me shower, and then I moved to the chair by the window. I didn’t have anything to tell anyone, and I wouldn’t have anything to say until I was able to talk.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Leo shift in his chair and lean his head back. They set the court date for next Monday. Did you want to go?

Did I want to go to court and see the guy who had tried to kill me? No, thank you. I had seen that asshole one too many times.

I’ll take your silence as no. Apollo and I will be there. I’m going to make sure that bastard never sees the light of day again.

I didn’t want to think of Big A ever again, let alone know what happened to him.

Greer come by to see you today? Leo asked. I didn’t answer, because he already knew the answer. There was rarely ever an answer Leo didn’t know. He made it his prerogative to know the answer before he asked the question. She just wants to see you, Fay. You and Greer used to be good friends.

Yeah, we were great friends before I got shot in the head and went mute.

I went out to lunch with her and Apollo today. It’s still hard to believe that those two are together. It’s a miracle Kane didn’t blow a gasket when he found out about those two in Vegas.

That was an understatement. Greer was Kane’s younger sister who had gone to Vegas over new years, and when she had come back, she was with Apollo, Leo’s right hand man and Kane’s best friend. I had known Greer for years and knew she had a thing for Apollo, but never imagined she would actually do anything about it. But if you hear Apollo talk about Greer, you would figure out Greer hadn’t been the one to do the pursuing. Apollo had wanted Greer, and he didn’t give her room to say no.

I think Greer is going to be good for him. She gives him a different perspective that he never had before. Leo sighed heavily, and I looked over at him. He looked tired and worn down, like he hadn’t slept in weeks. I quirked my eyebrow at him, and he knew I was waiting to hear whatever he had to say.

I don’t know what to do anymore, Fayth. I’ve exhausted every avenue I can go down to help you. I’m at a loss and I fucking hate it. He scowled.

Leo Banachi at a loss. Now, that was something I never thought I would see. Leo was in the position that he was because he never took no for an answer, and if there was anything standing in his way, he bulldozed through it. I never would have thought I would be the person to break him.

I need you to tell me what to do, Fay. You’ve always been there telling me what you think I should do even when I’m not asking you.

I cocked my head to the side. Did he really think this was what I wanted? I felt like I was suffocating in my own body with no chance of catching my breath anywhere.

"Marco fucking needs you, Fayth. If this is how you are going to be from now on, we need to get back to living, and